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The differences between directional drillers and roustabouts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a directional driller has an average salary of $54,153, which is higher than the $31,841 average annual salary of a roustabout.
The top three skills for a directional driller include CDL, safety procedures and safety standards. The most important skills for a roustabout are CDL, backhoe, and flow lines.
A Directional Driller specializes in drilling wells at different angles for better sources. They operate a variety of tools and machinery, follow guidelines, and conduct measurements and assessments to ensure quality and efficiency. There are also instances when they must produce progress and evaluation reports, maintain documentation, and develop maintenance strategies for the equipment. Directional Drillers must maintain an active communication line with co-workers, all while adhering to the company's safety policies and workplace regulations.
Roustabouts are manual workers who are typically employed in the oil and gas drilling industries. They have varied duties to keep the oil and gas rigs run efficiently and safely. Other responsibilities include maintaining the cleanliness of drill sites, transporting and storing materials and supplies to work areas, and installing equipment. They also conduct repairs on broken pumps and other equipment and maintain tools for drilling and extraction. This role's skills and qualifications include a high school diploma, familiarity with site safety procedures, and physical and mental stamina.
Directional drillers and roustabouts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Directional Driller | Roustabout | |
| Average salary | $54,153 | $31,841 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $83,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Bakersfield, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Nevada |
| Best paying company | - | Nabors Industries |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a directional driller and a roustabout in terms of educational background:
| Directional Driller | Roustabout | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between directional drillers' and roustabouts' demographics:
| Directional Driller | Roustabout | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5% | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 1.2% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 1.2% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |